Mrs Birling

Question 1

‘Girls of that class…’ - Class difference/prejudice
Act 1

Answer 1

-No respect for them
-Mrs B believes lower class are irresponsible and incapable of making responsible choices and decisions
-Verb ‘girls’ shows Mrs B believes lower class are unaware of real world and social hierarchy and how superior upper class are to lower class. ‘Girls’ also has infantilising tone -> ideas of immaturity, vulnerability, naivety, whereas Priestley trying to show that upper classes are not aware of real world whereas lower class face reality and life’s problems everyday and endure suffering off the backs of the upper classes actions and arrogance
- Girls as one group with no individuality, believes they are not worthy of their individual title and unique identity because they belong to the lower class
-Result of her arrogance driven by capitalist mindset
-Believes that they are commodities, reducing their human
-Incompetent to see lower class women as equal to her as she is blinded by prestige, as they are all going through hardships
-Condescending, dismissive tone as she immediately views herself far superior to them

Question 2

“She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl of her position.”
Act 2

Answer 2

She believed that Eva Smith was a desperate case who would try anything just for some charity money so she refused to help her.
“fine feelings” fricative sound creates a harsh tone to say that Sybil didn’t like Eva and that she looked down upon her as well. “absurd” adjective, shows she didn’t believe Eva no matter what she said and didn’t believe she could feel anything like that because of her class.
Priestley’s intentions were to paint Sybil in a bad light as to show her stuck up middle class and capitalist views were outdated and didn’t fit in with today’s world and that they needed to change.

Question 3

‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of’ - lack of responsibility
Act 3

Answer 3

-Incapable of showing emotion to lower classes
‘ashamed’ denotes reluctance to accept guilt through fear of judgement
-swiftness and agitated tone shows she trying to persuade the Inspector she isn’t to blame
-Reluctance presents Mrs B as stubborn, cold woman who is looking out for herself -> implies she struggles to see her own wrongdoings
-Exploits Mrs B true colours as selfish, cold, prejudice woman instead of charitable, welcoming, understanding women she perceived to be
-she has done something immoral but believes that is “nothing” that would incriminate or condemn her in society eyes, showing how she believe she is always right and actions imply Mrs B is self centered, stubborn woman reflective of upper class women attitudes